I don't think that Gramps has ever smiled a day in his life ...

As long as I have known him (all my life, practically), he has never laughed or smiled: he's always had a real nasty frown on his face, or he seems angry or frustrated somehow.  Nothing seems to please him.

Gramps moved in with us two years ago, when granmma (his wife) died of leukemia.  They were married over fifty years.  Seems that Gramps is angry with God for taking away his beloved Bessie; don't blame him, but don't make the rest of us miserable in the process ...

Gramps is surprisingly healthy for his age, which I happen to know is eighty five.  He does walk with a cane, only because his balance isn't nearly as good as it was, but other than that, he's probably healthier than the rest of us combined.  He just has a shitty attitude, and it's starting to affect all of us.

Like this morning.  Gramps went off on my little sister, Angel, because she left the milk out again; he grabbed her by the ears and shook her hard, until she was screaming with pain.  Well, that set mom off, and she went ballistic on him, calling him all sorts of nasty names.  Then he started in on her and threatened to hit her.  Gramps would have if dad hadn't intervened. 

Soon there was a shouting match; it was all I could do to keep from throwing up or start yelling myself.  I then left to go to school; seems that school is the only safe haven I have from the shouting matches that are a common occurrance in my house.

I hate it when Gramps goes off on the littler kids, especially Angel.  Angel is a child with special needs, and the last thing he needs to be doing is yelling at her because she doesn't understand.  She has a mild form of autism, and if people get mad or angry, she cries nonstop for hours; it takes quite a while to calm her down and to reassure her that things are going to be okay.

I know that mom and dad are probably trying to calm Angel down right now as I speak.  I just wonder what Gramps is doing: probably wishing that he was in a nursing home, or that he could join granmma in Heaven.

He is probably one of the most miserable son of a bitches I have ever met in my life.  I know I am not supposed to say that about my very own family, but what does one do with a person like Gramps?  I am sick of his attitude, and I am sick of his bringing the rest of us down the way he does!!